Canada selling booby-prize lottery tickets

The Canadian lottery that regulates sales of scratch-off tickets in three provinces and three territories sells tickets whose grand prizes are already won.

Officials with the Western Canada Lottery Corp in Winnipeg told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. the policy was no secret and customers are advised in small print about the process.

WCLC spokeswoman Andrea Marantz told the broadcaster that, before buying tickets, players can check the corporation's Web site, which is updated weekly, to see if the major prize is still available.

She defended continued sales after $100,000 or $1 million prizes had been won, as there were other prizes left.

"Winning $10 on a $2 ticket — people are happy," she said. "That's an attractive ticket."

Following complaints in the United States, lottery officials in Colorado, Indiana and Virginia revamped the sale of scratch tickets after jackpots are won, the report said.

The WCLC oversees ticket sales in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, along with the territories of Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut.

Lotteries selling tickets after big prizes already won

CBC News

Feeling lucky?

What if the big prize for the lottery ticket you just bought has already been won? And no one told you?

CBC Winnipeg's I-Team has discovered that the Western Canada Lottery Corporation continues to market a variety of lottery tickets — even after the top prize has already been won.

The WCLC says customers should always read the disclaimer on their ticket, which says: "Some of the prizes on this ticket may already have been claimed."

But lottery players say they don't always do that, and besides, the practice is not fair — why continue selling lottery tickets if buyers have no chance at the top prize? The CBC's Investigative Unit found retailers still were selling games such as Texas Hold'em Poker, Lucky 7s and Set for Life, after the top prizes had been won.

"It's ridiculous," said Winnipegger Marguerite Lambert. "I wouldn't continue to buy them if I knew that. If the prize is already gone — what's the point?"

Elsewhere, lottery operators have been forced by customer complaints and pending lawsuits to end a game of chance when the top prize has been won.

Lottery officials in Colorado and Indiana earlier this year ordered retailers to stop selling tickets for games in which top prizes had been won. Virginia changed its policy last year after a business professor sued the state lottery for $85 million.

So how long should a ticket be left in the marketplace after the top prize is gone?

WCLC spokesperson Andrea Marantz said while the top prize may have been won in some games of chance - subsidiary prizes are still available.

'Why keep on selling them?'

"Winning $10 on a $2 ticket — people are happy," she said. "That's an attractive ticket."

People often buy the tickets, however, hoping to win the biggest prize: $1 million or $100,000.

"If the big prizes are gone, why keep on selling them?" asked Winnipegger Maureen Rayner. "People are going for the big prize. That's the way I'm looking at it."

The WCLC says customers can check their website, updated weekly, to see if the major prize is still available — prior to buying a ticket.

Rayner said she didn't know that. "It's no use to someone who doesn't have a computer,' she said.

Marantz said the WCLC has no immediate plans to post the number of remaining prizes in stores where tickets are sold, but it's considering that possibility.

Customers say that would be a good idea. "They should really let people know that the major prizes have been won," said Diane Bishop. "I'm not going to buy a $5 ticket if I'm only going to win $50 — what's the point?"

What do you think?

Do you think that the lottery has properly advised its players and should continue its current policy of selling tickets with no jackpot prize remaining, or do you think they should pull the tickets after the big prizes are sold out?

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I think they should tell people when the big prizes have been won. That way, those who play for the top prizes can avoid that game and try another scratch off game and those who play for any prize can continue to play.

"No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to thetop."

I think they should tell people when the big prizes have been won. That way, those who play for the top prizes can avoid that game and try another scratch off game and those who play for any prize can continue to play.

I couldn't have said it better myself,TSC.

Personally,unless there were some huge prizes left,I wouldn't play if the top tier prizes were already claimed.I think they should update their website daily instead of weekly,though.A lot of tickets can be purchased in a weeks time.Iowa updates its website daily,except for weekends.Stores in Iowa get an update from the lottery via email daily and most stores post it near their lottery machines for their customers to read.

I think they should tell people when the big prizes have been won. That way, those who play for the top prizes can avoid that game and try another scratch off game and those who play for any prize can continue to play.

EXACTLY !

For example , here in Florida, they say on the lottery website which prizes have been claimed already (for the top prizes that is!)

Here in Delaware as soon as the last top prize(s) are sold and the lottery headquarters knows it, they give the order to all the retailers to pull the rest of the unsold tickets of that particular game!

No top prize left to win in that game, no more selling tickets of that game! That's the way it should be where ever there is a lottery scratch off ticket sold in the world!

Here in Delaware as soon as the last top prize(s) are sold and the lottery headquarters knows it, they give the order to all the retailers to pull the rest of the unsold tickets of that particular game!

No top prize left to win in that game, no more selling tickets of that game! That's the way it should be where ever there is a lottery scratch off ticket sold in the world!

WCLC spokesperson Andrea Marantz said while the top prize may have been won in some games of chance - subsidiary prizes are still available.

'Why keep on selling them?'

"Winning $10 on a $2 ticket — people are happy," she said. "That's an attractive ticket."

All I want to know is, "what I-pod has this ladie been smoking??? Is she for real?

The British National Lottery has this information on their website so you can make an informed decision. I think the Canadian lottery should do the same. People should know whether they stand a chance of winning or not.

"Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit." - R. E. Shay.